posted 12-31-2013 08:30 PM
Assuming there were no landings cancelled and Apollo 11 through Apollo 20 flew "perfect" missions, what were NASA's next steps for the moon? Were there plans to go back? A permanent moon base?

Apollo-type manned missions to continue exploration of the Moon should proceed. The launch rate should permit maximum responsiveness to new discoveries while maintaining mission safety and efficient utilization of support personnel. Early upgrading of lunar exploration capability beyond the basic Apollo level including enhanced mobility capability, and lunar rovers, is important to safe and efficient realization of significant returns over the longer term. An orbiting lunar station, followed by a surface-base, building upon Earth orbital space station and space transportation system developments, could be deployed as early as the latter half of the decade. Extension of manned lunar activity beyond upgraded Apollo capability should include consideration of these options.

moonnutMember

Posts: 38From: Andover, MNRegistered: Apr 2013

posted 01-01-2014 10:44 AM
Loved the goals section, saying back then, that a manned mars mission was achievable by 1981.

BlackarrowMember

Posts: 2125From: Belfast, United KingdomRegistered: Feb 2002

posted 01-01-2014 10:58 AM
From memory, 1981 soon became 1986, and that assumed the successful development and introduction of the NERVA nuclear engine.